Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Food safety is of primary importance and, as the Deputy indicated, it is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who has assured me that detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under this harmonised legislation, a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the safety of food and the protection of human and animal health. The application of these standards in the member states is monitored by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Union.

It is required that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in and trade between member states and all meat imports must come from third countries, or areas thereof, approved for export to the Union. Brazil is so approved. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food welcomed the publication by the EU Commission of the report on the Food and Veterinary Office's mission to Brazil. She said it will be very helpful in the overall process of ensuring equivalence and added she is now calling for a discussion on the report within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The Minister also noted that a further Food and Veterinary Office mission is taking place this month and stated the Commissioner responsible for health and consumer protection has assured her personally that he will not hesitate to take appropriate protection measures if a product imported from a third country represents a risk to the health of EU consumers, livestock or plants. There is very strong liaison between my Department and that of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on such issues.

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